Stories for Dads and Moms who Need a Laugh

Halloween . It's the time of year when you get to traipse around the neighborhood and knock on doors for candy. Every stop means a chance for your favorite kind. You walk the streets in a costume you spent hours searching for or making in your room, with or without the help of your parents. It's the one time of year when it's acceptable to take candy from strangers. After a few hours of briefly visiting the neighbors with your friends, siblings, or parents, you go home and look over the glorious bounty of your haul. Halloween Costumes and Parties The entire day was fun when you were a kid. You went to school knowing assignments would end early so everyone could get into their costumes. When everyone was changed, it was time to pass out the candy. Everyone walked around the room leaving some type of sweet on everyone's desk. You were allowed to have food in the classroom. You got to dress up. If you were lucky, you had the coolest costume in the entire school. More often...

August, 2022. My in-laws' dog in the background. P arents do things for their children. It's part of the job description. Sometimes, we do things and we don't even understand why we're doing it for them. Sometimes, our children ask us to do something that seems simple enough when we start out. A Halloween Tradition We have a tradition in our family that centers around Halloween. It's been happening for a few years. Every Halloween my children decide what I'm going to be. I don't go trick-or-treating with them. I hold down the fort at home and keep a little campfire going for the nice children and parents that come by for their annual candy. I usually have a pot of apple cider warming on the fire for the nice people who come by. There is one constant element to the costume my children pick out. I have to have a beard. Beginning October 1, I give the shaving cream, razor and aftershave a month-long vacation and let nature take it's course. My children...